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Wrongful dismissals lawsuits can be costly and bad for your company's image. Avoid them with a written policy on disciplinary actions, and by treading carefully when suspending employees, writes lawyer Maryam K. Ansari. "Your policies should have something written out about how long an ordinary disciplinary suspension should last. If the suspension goes on too long, the suspension might be seen as a dismissal," Ansari writes.

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As the owner of a retail business, you should take immediate action after one of your products has been recalled, writes Maryam K. Ansari. Let employees know about the recall, and remove the recalled product from your shelves. Contact customers who have purchased the item, and place notices about the recall in spots where they will be easy to see.

In a living will, business owners can define when they will be considered incapacitated. That definition triggers a power of attorney for someone to take over decisions regarding the business, writes attorney Maryam Ansari.

Suspending an employee without pay might seem like a good disciplinary tactic, but you have to consider whether the employee is exempt or nonexempt, writes attorney Maryam K. Ansari. Depending on the reason for suspension, you can take money out of the salary of an exempt, or salaried, employee. Serious work violations include drug or alcohol use, sexual harassment, and breaking other federal or state laws.

Taxpayers need to retain documentation that their tax returns were sent to the Internal Revenue Service in the event that the IRS claims it did not receive them, writes attorney Maryam K. Ansari. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that a business could be penalized for not filing a tax returned unless they could offer proof they had mailed the return. To avoid a mishap, keep receipts from the post office or send your return as certified or registered mail, advises Ansari.

If you aren't ready to file your tax return, you can get some extra time by filing an extension, writes Maryam K. Ansari. Form 4868 and Form 7004 can help you to do that. "These extensions are automatic and you don't have to make a case before the IRS in order to claim entitlement to them," Ansari writes.